{
    "term": "silence",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a complete lack of noise or sound",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Their footsteps echoed in the silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A scream broke the silence of the night."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I need **absolute silence** when I'm working."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Celeste's voice penetrated the silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She filled the silence with music."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Silence reigned."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We sat in complete silence, save for the ticking of the clock."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a silence punctuated only by the occasional sniff from the children"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Something was moving in silence along the edge of the woods."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "quiet",
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["lengthy", "long", "prolonged"],
                "… of silence": ["moment"],
                "verb + silence": ["maintain", "break", "interrupt"],
                "silence + verb": ["come over something", "descend", "fall"],
                "preposition": ["in (the) silence"],
                "phrases": ["two minutes’ silence", "three minutes’ silence"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a situation when nobody is speaking",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "an **embarrassed/awkward/uncomfortable silence**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a moment’s stunned silence"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I got used to his long silences."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They finished their meal **in total silence**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She lapsed into silence again."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a **deafening silence** *(= one that is very noticeable)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a two-minute silence in honour of those who had died"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her accusations reduced him to silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He’s not one to suffer in silence! *(= to suffer without telling somebody)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was **a moment of** uncomfortable **silence**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They observed a two-minute silence in memory of the children."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A heavy silence lingered in the air."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A stunned silence greeted her announcement."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A sudden silence fell over the room."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He lapsed into a sullen silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He thought for a moment, the silence lengthening."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She fell into long, brooding silences."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The boys were stunned into silence by this news."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rest of the trip passed in relative silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a moment's silence before she replied."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They ate their breakfast in silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They walked in companionable silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We sat and watched in awed silence as she performed."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["lengthy", "long", "prolonged"],
                "… of silence": ["moment"],
                "verb + silence": ["maintain", "break", "interrupt"],
                "silence + verb": ["come over something", "descend", "fall"],
                "preposition": ["in (the) silence"],
                "phrases": ["two minutes’ silence", "three minutes’ silence"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a situation in which somebody refuses to talk about something or to answer questions",
            "sensetop": "silence (on something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She **broke her** public **silence** in a TV interview."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company's silence on the subject has been taken as an admission of guilt.",
                    "contextForm": "silence (on something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the **right to silence** *(= the legal right not to say anything when you are arrested)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is **a conspiracy of silence** about what is happening *(= everyone has agreed not to discuss it)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has so far kept a dignified silence on the subject."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There seems to have been a deliberate silence from the newspapers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a debate to break the silence surrounding domestic violence"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She maintained a stony silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I took her silence as a no."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["deafening", "dignified", "deliberate"],
                "verb + silence": ["keep", "maintain", "take as"],
                "silence + verb": ["surround"],
                "preposition": ["silence from"],
                "phrases": [
                    "a conspiracy of silence",
                    "a wall of silence",
                    "a vow of silence"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a situation in which people do not communicate with each other by letter or phone",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The phone call came after months of silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lewis finally broke the long silence between them."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The soldier had broken radio silence to contact his aircraft."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a situation when people do not say anything, but feel embarrassed or uncomfortable",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "an occasion when nobody speaks, although people are aware that there are feelings or thoughts to express",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "There was a pregnant pause before she replied."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "it is often best not to say anything",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsaɪləns/",
                "audio": "si/silence/silence__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsaɪləns/",
                "audio": "si/silence/silence__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere ‘be silent’."
}